I thought about calling the seamstress to our house since I was feeling too lazy to go out, but realized that if I did so, then my father might intervene with the dress picking. For this reason, I decided to go visit the dress shop in person. It may have been due to the fact that there was a suddenly scheduled banquet, but I found that my favorite dress shop was overflowing with people who had visited to have a dress fitted. The place was a madhouse, but since I was deep in thought, I couldn't hear the noises.

'What color should I wear if I want to avoid catching the crown prince's attention?'

My ears suddenly perked up at a voice mentioning the main culprit of my troubles.

"I've heard that the crown prince likes a calm color like blue."

"That was a long time ago. I've heard that his preference has recently changed to a showy color like red."

"Wouldn't a bright color be okay as well? It would help me stand out!"

It was all groundless words, but listening to them, I had a feeling that many people would be attending the banquet in showy primary colors.

'If I don't want to stand out among those people…'

My thoughts were interrupted when the designer of the dress shop approached me and asked, "Have you decided on the color of your dress, Lady Floyen?"

I thought of a plain color that wouldn't stand out. "I'd like my dress to be pink beige, please." Beige was something that wasn't going to be noticeable amidst fancy colors. That was probably why the designer looked unsatisfied with my answer.

"I honestly don't think that color will stand out," she said.

"It doesn't matter."

She looked a bit taken aback at my response, but I didn't care. 'Because that's what I'm going for.' Still, if I made it obvious that I didn't care, there was a chance she would think it was weird, so I made up a reason and whispered it to her.

"Everyone else is choosing colorful dresses. I don't want to copy them." I spoke carefully as if I were a fashionable person of this era who wanted to go against the trend. However, the designer remained skeptical and tried to dissuade me.

"Still, that color is a little…"

I knew what she wanted and replied with a smile, "Please make it out of the finest fabric and decorations." If I went against my father's wishes and ordered a cheap dress instead of an expensive one, then there was a chance that he was going to find out my true intentions. That's why I decided to ask for expensive fabric and decorations to make a high-priced, yet simple dress. There was no longer any reason for the dress shop to refuse my order since I was being stubborn and had expressed my intention to pay a high price.

"I guess there's nothing I can do. I'll have to do everything I can to make you the star of this banquet, my lady."

I smiled in satisfaction. 'The crown prince won't like my dress anyway, so it should be fine.'

* * *

Meanwhile, the crown prince and his guards who were returning to the capital were taking a short break at an inn. Although they were physically tired, the guards were filled with excitement.

"About this banquet… Will Lady Veronica from Count Terrence's family be there?"

"Of course she'll be there, you idiot. It's required for nobles to attend banquets hosted by the royal family."

"What a relief. I've always liked her. I really want to take this opportunity to ask her for a dance."

"I really want to tell Lady Rose that there's no other lady who looks as good in pink as she does!"

As he listened to the conversation, Max imagined Jubelian in a dress. 'I guess a compliment like that will be meaningless to her, since any color suits her.'

Dennis, the head of the guards, smiled with joy as he watched the crown prince smiling slightly. 'Seeing His Highness smiling at a trivial conversation like this is a good sign.' The crown prince's attendants thought their master was going to demand a huge reward or the royal treasure, which was passed down for many generations, for his victory. This was because the reward could be used to further fund the military and the treasure was said to contain mysterious powers. However, to their surprise, the crown prince had asked the emperor for something that no one had expected.

"I'm going to ask the emperor to hold a victory banquet," he had said.

Judging from the crown prince's dislike of banquets, it was safe to say that this festival was requested solely for his subordinates. 'Who would have thought that His Highness would… turn down the treasure and hold a banquet for us instead?'

After many years of suffering on the battlefield, the majority of the knights had become mentally exhausted. Because of this, they couldn't help but be moved when they realized that their commander had done this kind gesture for them.

'Now that he's no longer lacking in personality, the only thing remaining is… for His Highness to welcome a suitable partner.'

With this thought, Dennis struck up a conversation with the crown prince. "Will you be attending this banquet as well, Your Highness?" he inquired in a friendly tone.

Max nodded at the question. "Yes."

Seeing the crown prince content, Dennis decided that now was his chance to ask what was on his mind. "Why don't you take this opportunity to find your partner, Your Highness?"

Max's face hardened and a frown settled on his lips when he heard the word 'partner.' "What nonsense are you spouting? We have a rebellion planned ahead of us."

"There are many advantages to a marriage, such as justifying an alliance under its name. Even if you don't get married right away, why don't you take this chance to start looking for a suitable partner?"

Dennis was right, but if Max were to become an emperor by gaining political strength through marriage, it was as good as giving his wife's family the right to intervene in political affairs. Because of this, Max was going to disclose that he had no intention to marry.

Before he could speak, Dennis continued. "It can be because you like the way they look, their personality, or you just feel comfortable with them. Anything is fine, so please consider that there might be a lady out there you may be interested in, Your Highness."

At Dennis' earnest request, Max's face tensed as a certain someone came to mind when he heard those words. 'Jubelian.' Of all the occasions he could have thought of, what came to his mind was Jubelian wearing a white dress, asking him if it suited her well. Max could feel his face burning as soon as he imagined her smiling at him with her shining blue, jewel-like eyes.

'White would suit her as well… No, I've got to stop this. My partner will become the future empress, so I must think carefully about it.' He quickly composed himself and carefully considered his standards, starting with appearance to family and personality. Even so, no matter how much he thought about it, Jubelian was the only one who corresponded with everything Dennis mentioned. When he realized this, the unpleasant feeling he had strangely faded away.

'Well, it's true that… there's no one more suitable than her to be my partner.' Max thought as the tips of his lips began to curl up.